Sen. Binay to ex-vice mayor Mercado: Are you possessed?

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Senator Nancy Binay and former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay lashed out at former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who she said might have been “possessed” when he accused her family of receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks.

In his testimony at the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday, Mercado detailed how he personally delivered kickbacks to Vice President Jejomar Binay when he was the city mayor, and to other family members, including the senator.

But Senator Binay strongly denied the allegations, saying the only thing that she got from Mercado, who happens to be her godfather, was a wedding gift.

“Wala siguro (maybe none),” she said when asked if there was a single incident where she met and accepted something from the former vice mayor.

“The only time he gave me a gift was during my wedding. Wedding gift…Parang kutsara ata yung gift niya sa akin (I think his gift to me was a set of spoons),” she said.

The senator said she was saddened that the Senate was being used as a venue to malign her family by people who want to advance their own personal interests.

Asked if the Binays would file charges against their accuser, Senator Binay said they have yet to study the matter but admitted being hurt by false allegations.

“Parang sandali hindi na ito nakakatawa, masasakit na yung mga binabato nilang alegasyon (Wait, this is not funny anymore; now the allegations they are throwing at us hurt),” she said.

Asked again if she had any message for Mercado, Senator Binay said: “Siguro ipagdadasal ko na lang sya na ma-enlighten at talagang magsabi na lang sya ng katotohanan baka nasasapian kasi (Maybe I’ll just pray for him that he may be enlightened and that he would just tell the truth, because he may be possessed).”

Originally posted at 05:21 pm | September 11, 2014